From Finland to New Zealand – Haeinsa Temple, Gayasan, Yaro, South Korea

With Seoul behind, after a relatively short journey, the little town of Yaro is a refreshing experience of Korean countryside and calmness. Surrounded by rice/onion fields, hills and rivers, I really enjoyed the change of pace. Sometimes visiting manly cities can make one forget that the world isn’t always so hectic.

During a day-off from volunteering for a family in Yaro, I headed to the Haeinsa Temple, just a short bus ride away.

Haeinsa is an active Buddhist temple which, luckily, has been spared both during the Japanese Invasion of Korea and the Korean War. In the latter case, Kim Young Hwan, the leader of the Air Force’s pilots, disobeyed his orders to preserve the artifacts preserved in the temple.

This means that today the colorful set of temples, the beautiful forests and the historical artifacts are still there to be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone. Interestingly, there is also the possibility of a temple stay to fully experience the Buddhist life.

Wandering around the smaller temples and paths surrounding the main building was properly relaxing, especially when unexpected snow started to fall and add the final touch to the winter scenery.
Cold and content, I waited for the hourly bus and returned back to Yaro.